Nomura Asset Management has launched the Next Nomura Shareholder Yield 70 ETF (2529 JP) on Tokyo Stock Exchange. The fund offers passive exposure to Japanese equities that are providing a high level of return through dividends and share buybacks.

Nomura Asset Management has launched the NEXT FUNDS MSCI Japan Empowering Women Select Index ETF (2518 JP). Listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, the fund provides exposure to high quality Japanese companies that exhibit a commitment towards promoting and maintaining a high level of gender diversity among their workforce.

Year-to-date (YTD) net inflows for ETFs globally reached a record $433 billion at the end of September 2017, according to ETFGI, an increase of 79% from the same period in 2016. The $49bn of net new assets gathered during September marked the forty-fourth consecutive month of inflows and brings total global ETF assets to $4.5 trillion.

ETFGI, a London-based ETF research and consultancy firm, has released the results of its monthly ETF landscape report showing assets invested in globally-listed ETFs have grown 35.3% in the first eight months of 2017 to reach a new record high of $4.8 trillion. On current momentum, global ETF assets look set to reach $5tn in the next few months.

Assets invested in exchange-traded funds and exchange-traded products listed in Japan have reached a new record high of $209 billion at the end of April 2017, despite monthly net outflows of $837 million, according to analysis by ETF industry consultant ETFGI.

Assets invested in exchange-traded funds and exchange-traded products listed globally reached a new record high $3.408tn at the end of Q3 2016, according to latest research from London-based ETF industry consultant ETFGI. While year-to-date ETF/ETP net inflows of $238.1bn is slightly behind the $251.7bn gathered at this point in 2015, both fixed income and commodity ETFs/ETPs have set YTD records within their asset class of $100.7bn and $85.6bn net inflows respectively.

ETFGI, a London-based consultant for the exchange-traded funds industry, has released a report investigating global flows across ETFs and ETPs during February 2016. The global ETF and ETP industry insights report finds that the ETF industry gathered $10.8bn in net new assets over the month bringing global assets under management to over $2.8tn. Deborah Fuhr, managing partner at ETFGI, commented: “February was another volatile month for equity markets which drove investors to invest net flows into government bonds and gold. The S&P 500 closed the month down 0.13%. Despite recent uncertainty, emerging markets gain 0.31% in February, while developed markets outside of the U.S. declined 1%.”

Nomura has launched four exchange-traded funds on the SIX Swiss Exchange, becoming the first Asian issuer to list on the exchange. The ETFs provide currency-hedged exposure to two of Japan’s foremost equity indices, the smart beta JPX-Nikkei 400 and the widely-followed Nikkei 225. Offered in EUR-hedged and USD-hedged formats, the ETFs allow investors to gain exposure to Japanese equities, while protecting against adverse yen depreciate. Nomura’s Jean-Philippe Royer said: “Nomura is the biggest Japanese equities ETF manager, but until today very few investors in Switzerland could invest in our ETFs. Through the listing on SIX Swiss Exchange, we can now provide the broader Swiss investor community with local access to Nomura’s best-in-class products.”

Despite testing market conditions, the global ETF/ETP industry pulled in net inflows of $13.1 billion in January 2016, according to preliminary data from industry consultants ETFGI. The industry has now totted up an impressive 24 consecutive months of net inflows. Fixed income was the best performing ETF category in January, gathering net inflows of $12.5bn, followed by commodities with $3.4bn. Equity ETFs/ETPs experienced the largest net outflows, with $8.5bn being withdrawn from such products. At the issuer level, Nomura AM gathered the largest net inflows in January with $4.2bn, followed by Vanguard and VelocityShares.

ETFGI, a London-based exchange-traded fund consultancy, has released research showing that growth in net new assets within the global ETF/ETP space is moving at a faster pace than ever before. The report found that $319.4bn in net gatherings have been achieved as of 30 November 2015, 15% above the previous year-to-date (YTD) record of $277.3bn set last year. Global net gatherings of $29.9bn were recorded during November, marking the 22nd consecutive month of positive net flows for the industry.